Man jailed for rash of Tazewell burglaries

A Creve Coeur man was ordered to jail Friday for his role in an estimated dozen burglaries throughout Tazewell County last summer.

William Sommerville, 26, was one of four persons who allegedly committed the crimes in five communities, most of which were aimed at stealing appliances and other metal objects to sell for scrap.

Sommerville also gave door and safe combinations to a 16-year-old youth, who used them to steal about $1,000 from the Hilltop Grill in Creve Coeur where Sommerville had worked, according to a prosecutor’s court affidavit.

He was sentenced to 180 days in jail, two years of probation and ordered to pay nearly $6,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to that burglary and another at a Morton storage business.

Sommerville, however, was linked with the other suspects by Creve Coeur investigators to other burglaries in Creve Coeur, Morton, East Peoria, Marquette Heights and Groveland, Creve Coeur Police Chief Dale King said Friday.

The crimes were committed over six weeks last July and August at both homes and businesses. The burglary ring’s take included window-unit air conditioners, a washer and dryer, refrigerators and a riding lawn mower, King said.

Everything was recovered except for two air conditioners that were sold for scrap, he said.

Sommerville cooperated in the police investigation following his arrest in late August, King said.

That soon produced the arrest of Daniel Campbell, 32, of North Pekin, who is expected to plead guilty to one charge of burglary on Monday.

King said Joseph Hitteman, 23, of Manito, also was arrested in the investigation, but he has yet to be formally charged. The youth was adjudicated in juvenile court.

Sommerville was permitted to report to jail for his term on May 26.

Follow Michael Smothers at Twitter.com/msmotherspekin

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